Ex-Man Utd trainee Joe Thompson, 35, diagnosed with cancer for 3rd time & says ‘aggressive’ lymphoma has spread to lungs

FORMER footballer and Manchester United trainee Joe Thompson has revealed he’s been diagnosed with cancer for a third time.

The 35-year-old was first told he had Hodgkin lymphoma in 2013.

Former footballer Joe Thompson has been diagnosed with cancer for a third timeGetty

X @IAmJoeThompsonThompson hopes to raise £250,000 through a GoFundMe for treatment[/caption]

Thompson recovered after treatment but it returned four years later.

The ex-Rochdale midfielder then beat cancer again before making a stunning return to the beautiful game.

After retiring in 2019, he then moved into the world of public speaking.

However, Thompson revealed he has now been diagnosed for a third time with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Speaking to BBC Radio Manchester, he explained how the “aggressive” lymphoma is already at stage four.

It has also spread to his lungs, making it difficult to breathe and sleep.

And although it “hurts” to get another diagnosis, Thompson has vowed to battle against it and win again.

He said: “It’s far from ideal and it’s come back quite aggressive, so stage four.

“The only positive is it is the same cancer as what I’ve had previously, but the issue for me this time is its gone on to my lungs, so breathing is a problem, sleeping is difficult and even talking sometimes can be quite hard.

“You’ve only got a certain amount of time on this earth. I always think you want to make the biggest impact you can possibly do on so many lives as possible.

“That’s where I’m at so I’ve got to lead from the front. I’m going to need cavalry and I’m ready for them to rise up and we’ll just get through it again, and then we look at the future.

Thompson is looking to beat cancer for a third time

“Definitely the fight is still inside, nothing changes, but actually facing it for the third time really hurts because you know what you are going to have to go through.”

Thompson has created a GoFundMe to help raise £250,000 for his latest treatment.

A message read: “Dear friends and supporters,

“I am Joe Thompson and my journey has been one of resilience and hope. Once a professional footballer, my life took an unexpected turn in 2013 when I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

“The joy of fatherhood was overshadowed by this daunting challenge, but with courage and determination, I faced six months of chemotherapy and emerged in remission.

“The battle seemed to be won, but life had other plans. On Christmas Eve 2016, 3 years later. I faced the harsh reality of a relapse.

“I had to endure a stem cell transplant, where I spent 18 days in isolation, a period that tested my sanity but also showcased the strength of the human spirit.

“Now, the cancer has returned with a vengeance, spreading to my lungs. In the face of adversity, I’ve been collaborating with oncologists and scientists, self-funding research to uncover the root cause of my recurring illness.

What are the signs of lymphoma?

LYMPHOMA is a term for cancer that starts in the lymph system – a network of vessels and glands that spans your body.

There are two main kinds of lymphoma – Hodgkin Lymphoma and Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Lymphoma can cause many different symptoms, depending on which type of lymphoma it is and where it develops in the body.

The most typical signs are:

Swollen lymph nodes, such as in the neck, armpit or groin area
Night sweats
Extreme tiredness
Itching
Unexplained weight loss
Fever
Excessive bleeding, such as nosebleeds, heavy periods and spots of blood under the skin

Other signs of lymphoma in a more localised area include:

Swelling of the stomach, loss of appetite and other abdominal symptoms
Coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain 

“Today, I reach out to you with a heartfelt plea for support. We aim to raise £250,000 to cover the costs of my ongoing treatment and to pioneer a groundbreaking test that could prevent the recurrence of not only my cancer but potentially save countless lives in the future.

“As a family we have self funded the treatment and worked with the scientists so far with our own savings near on six figures but we still have a long way to go and would not have the opportunity to continue with the research and treatment without your support.

“Your generosity can make a world of difference. Any amount you can contribute will be deeply valued and will bring us closer to a future where no family has to endure this struggle alone.

“With gratitude and hope, Joe Thompson and Family.”

Speaking to SunSport after his retirement in 2019, Thompson lifted the lid on his first cancer diagnosis.

He said: “I didn’t want to scare anybody, but I didn’t want to hide anything either.

“The more I could share regarding the experience, the more I wanted people to realise that you can get there, no matter how hard it is.

“I needed to relay that message strong enough to make the impact.

“People who are or have suffered cancer have told me they read the book while they were in hospital, which makes me happy to know my story is getting across.

“It was tough to write and draining. You have to have certain conversations with your family that you may not have in your life.

“The irony of the cover picture is that I’m looking the worst I’ve ever looked, but I’m probably the happiest, most elated and most relieved man on the planet.”

Joe Thompson’s career stats

Those numbers in full:

Rochdale, 2005-2012: 157 games, 17 goals

Tranmere Rovers, 2012-2014: 32 games, 4 goals

Rochdale (loan), 2012-2013: 7 games, 0 goals

Bury, 2014-2015: 4 games, 0 goals

Wrexham (loan), 2014-2015: 1 game, 0 goals

Southport (loan), 2014-2015: 4 games, 0 goals

Carlisle United, 2015-2016: 17 games, 1 goal

Rochdale, 2016-2019: 39 games, 4 goals